§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by Mr Morley on 10 January (HC Deb, 991W), what factors have affected United Kingdom harvested production of oilseeds in 2000 and 2001, which came in at 66 per cent of 1999 production and 81 per cent of 1996 production. [HL2378]
§ Lord WhittyIn making their planting decisions farmers will take account of a range of factors relevant to the particular circumstances applying on their 209WA farms. However, the decrease in the production of oilseeds in 2000 and 2001 is partly explained by the reduction in the specific aid rate payable for oilseeds under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS). As a consequence of the changes agreed in Agenda 2000, the aid rate for oilseeds will be equalised with that for cereals from the 2002 harvest, thus making planting decisions more market driven and less responsive to the level of subsidy available under the AAPS. In addition, poor conditions in the 2000–01 season have resulted in much lower oilseed yields in 2001, even though the planted area was higher than in 2000.